This video from Armament Research Services (ARES) explores the unique Fosbery pump-action shotgun, designed around 1891. Notably, it features a bolt design with six independent locking lugs, remarkably similar to those developed by Johnson and Stoner over 50 years later for the AR-15 platform. The firearm's history is further complicated by its evolution from a pump-action rifle, later converted into a shotgun using a Winchester barrel. Despite not reaching commercial production, the Fosbery shotgun stands as an intriguing piece of early firearm innovation and a precursor to modern bolt designs.
This video delves into the BESAL, a simplified light machine gun developed in Britain as an emergency measure. Conceived by Faulkner, a BSA employee, the BESAL was a redesign of the Bren gun, driven by the critical need for a weapon that could be produced in decentralized workshops following the disastrous retreat from Dunkirk in 1940. The Bren's complex parts made rapid, widespread production difficult, especially under the threat of bombing. Faulkner's BESAL aimed to simplify the design for easier manufacturing, making it more resilient to invasion. Despite being tested and approved as reliable, the immediate threat subsided, and the Bren was already in production elsewhere, leading to the BESAL's shelving. The video also touches on the historical context and the motivations behind its development.
This video from Armament Research Services (ARES) delves into the fascinating British EM-2 bullpup rifle, a select-fire rifle designed to replace both infantry rifles and submachine guns. It highlights the EM-2's innovative features for its time, including its intended use with optical sights and its .280 caliber cartridge optimized for common combat ranges. The analysis explains the rifle's mechanical basis, drawing parallels to the German G43, and discusses its advanced handling features like automatic bolt closure. Despite its technical merits, the video emphasizes that political decisions favoring American ordnance compatibility ultimately led to the EM-2's failure to be adopted, making it a prime example of a weapon lost to politics rather than technical shortcomings. Only 55 examples were manufactured, including a paratrooper model and 7.62mm NATO variants.
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